6 LinkedIn Profile Best Practices for Staffing Professionals

LinkedIn is the premier professional social networking site, providing a forum in which to connect with colleagues, perform client research, and keep abreast of industry news and trends but, with 500 million users and counting, it can be easy to get lost in the noise. However, savvy staffing professionals have learned that by sticking to the following best practices they can keep their profile looking fresh and top of mind for potential clients and recruits alike.

IT STARTS WITH THE PROFILE PIC

This isn't Facebook, so a photo of yourself at the bar with friends or enjoying hike in the woods isn’t appropriate. You want to portray yourself as competent and professional, and you want to be clearly visible. A formal headshot is preferable and easy to attain, either by having someone snap a well-lit photo in front of a neutral background or by stopping by a local photo studio.

And don't forget the background image. You don't want to overpower your profile photo, but you do want to use the real estate to further emphasize your personality. This is a good area to include a photo of you in a more casual environment in order to make the profile more personal, but be careful to keep the photo work friendly.

CREATE AN ATTRACTIVE HEADLINE

Your headline should be concisely written and keyword rich, while explaining what makes you an expert in your field. In other words, opt for "Experienced Medical Recruiter Specializing in Executive Level Placements" vs. "Recruiter".

BRAG ABOUT YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

This is your opportunity to explain your professional qualifications, so be sure to include your most noteworthy achievements in the summary field and to complete as much of the profile as possible. Keep the descriptions very short; this is simply a list of highlights to prove your expertise in your field via tangible accomplishments.

Your LinkedIn profile can be thought of as an extended resume, so remember to include accomplishments and certifications that may not be as eye-catching to viewers, but are just as relevant to your overall professional profile.

KEEP IT RELEVANT

For staffing professionals, keeping everything in a LinkedIn profile relevant is of utmost importance. Remember, this isn't Facebook, so no one is interested in that great bowl of Pho that you had for lunch last year. Include pertinent work history, giving emphasis to jobs that line up with your stated professional goals, and utilize the three URLs you are allotted to upload any online portfolios, resumes, or other important information.

But don't stop there. Take the time to curate and post timely information on your wall in order to establish yourself as an expert in your sector of the staffing industry. If you are posting content that you did not create be certain to give credit to the original author, but feel free to offer your own thoughts and opinions on the content to further the conversation with any followers that may interact with your profile.

ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

There's no shame in asking for recommendations from people that you’ve worked with in the past. But don't just ask. Offer to give a recommendation in return if the contact that you are speaking to has earned it.

KEEP BUILDING YOUR NETWORK

Last but not least, be SOCIAL and keep building your network! A staffing professional with 1,000 connections inherently looks more established than one with 100, even if they don't have as much experience, so keep reaching out to peers (even if you have yet to meet them personally) and participating in as many relevant groups as possible in order to build up your connections.

At its core, LinkedIn is a way for professionals to connect and share ideas, so jump in and participate in conversations that build up around posts or in groups, paying special attention to conversing with professionals that may be able to open a door to an opportunity for you down the road. And, if you’re a part of a franchised staffing firm such as AtWork, take advantage of your extended franchise network by connecting and conversing with your peers at branches across the country. This can be a great way to build your total connections, make connections in new markets and possibly in other industries, and keep abreast of the latest staffing industry news and information from across the country.

LinkedIn is inarguably the most widely used, and powerful social networking tool for staffing professionals today. By adhering to the tips above you can ensure that you are maximizing your impact within the platform and establishing yourself as an expert within the staffing industry. And, if you’d like to learn more about the AtWork opportunity and how AtWork franchisees work together to increase visibility across their LinkedIn networks, click HERE or call 888-553-1745 today!